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Self-Care for Sjögren's Syndrome

Topic Overview

Sjögren's syndrome is a disease that causes dry eyes and dry mouth. It can also affect your skin, lungs, and vagina and your energy level. The following
steps and treatments can be very helpful in relieving your symptoms and
improving the quality of your life. Getting plenty of rest, eating well,
and doing mild exercise every day also play an important role in successful home
treatment of this condition.

Eyes

Use artificial teardrops throughout the day.
Artificial tears come in different formulas, so if one type doesn't help, try
another. Try to use preservative-free drops, which are less irritating to the
eyes. Artificial tears are available in single-dose packets, which help to
avoid bacterial contamination.

Use lubricating ointments at night.
Lubricants are thicker and last longer than artificial tears, so there is less
burning, dryness, and itching when you wake up in the morning. Be aware that
nighttime lubricants may temporarily blur your vision when you first apply
them.

Use wraparound sunglasses to better protect your
eyes from the sun, wind, and grit.

Mouth

Drink fluids throughout the day to keep your
mouth moist. Keep water by your bedside at night. But be aware that drinking
large amounts of water does not reduce mouth dryness and causes excessive
urination during the night. Try drinking small sips of water and rinsing your
mouth frequently. Sucking on ice chips can also help.

Use
artificial saliva substitutes (mouthwash or spray), which coat the
mouth.

Avoid medicines that are known to cause a dry mouth, such
as antidepressants,
antihistamines, and
diuretics.

Brush your teeth twice a day
and after meals with
fluoride toothpaste, and floss your teeth every
day.

Use antifungal medicines to
treat
thrush, a yeast infection that develops in the
mouth.

Use sugar-free gum or candies such as lemon drops that
naturally stimulate saliva production. (Sugar can increase your risk for
cavities and yeast infections.)

Sjögren's syndrome causes dry mouth, which in turn can make it hard to
swallow pills. In some cases, your pharmacist can crush the pills and put
each dose in a capsule. Then you can mix the contents of the capsule with a
teaspoonful of jam, jelly, or gelatin for easier swallowing. Be sure to take
all the food in order to get the full dose of medicine.

Skin

Use moisturizing skin creams or ointments
throughout the day.

Shower instead of taking a bath. Use only
moisturizing soaps.

After showering, pat off excess water, leaving
the skin moist. Then, replenish the moisture in your skin by applying a skin
cream or ointment.

Your skin may be extra sensitive to the sun.
Avoid the midday sun, from about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cover your skin when you are
outside—for example, wear long pants and long sleeves and wide-brimmed hats—and
use
SPF 30 or stronger sunscreen. Many experts recommend
using sunscreen with SPF 50. For more information, see the Prevention section
of the topic
Sunburn.

Respiratory tract

Place a humidifier (and an air purifier, if
you feel it helps) in your home and at work to increase your
comfort.

Use
nasal spray made of water and salt (saline) to help a
dry nose or nasal congestion.

Vagina

It is common for women with Sjögren's
syndrome to experience vaginal dryness and painful intercourse.

Replens, a nonhormonal vaginal moisturizer
that lasts for hours or even days.

K-Y Silk-e.

Vagisil
Personal Moisturizer.

Vaginal lubricants can make intercourse more comfortable
for you by relieving the friction you might experience if you have vaginal
dryness. But vaginal lubricants do not add moisture to the vagina and are not
useful for everyday moisturizing. Look for a water-based lubricant instead of
an oil-based lubricant, which can interfere with the vagina's natural cleansing
process. Vaginal lubricants include:

Astroglide.

Wet Lubricant
Gel.

K-Y Jelly.

Maxilube.

Surgilube.

Stomach

Take a nonprescription antacid or acid
reducer, such as Pepcid or Zantac, when needed, to reduce
heartburn.

Raise the head of your bed 6
inches to reduce the backflow (reflux) of stomach acid into your
esophagus when you sleep.

See your doctor if you have heartburn or
reflux that does not respond to self-care.

Reduce your use of caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol, which tend to
contribute to fatigue.

Comfort (relieving inflammation and pain)

Try daily gentle exercise—swimming in a warm
pool may be good if your joints ache—and get plenty of rest every night to
relieve aches.

Acetaminophen and
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as
aspirin or ibuprofen, can help reduce mild swelling and pain. See a doctor for
severe swelling and pain in the glands, joints, and muscles, which may require
a different medicine or further evaluation.

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